C++ variable has initializer but incomplete type?

Get rid of struct before item, you've typedef'd it.

The problem is that

typedef struct { /* ... */ } item;

does not declare the type name struct item, only item. If you want to be able to use both names use

typedef struct item { /* ... */ } item;

typedef struct { ... } item creates an unnamed struct type, then typedefs it to the name item. So there is no struct item - just item and an unnamed struct type.

Either use struct item { ... }, or change all your struct item item1 = { ... }s to item item1 = { ... }. Which one you do depends on your preference.